Pseudotransient Continuation-Based Steady State Solver: Extension to Zero Flow Rates

This paper presents and discusses an extension of the pseudotransient continuation-based steady state solver for hydraulic networks proposed previously to the case of zero flow rates. The original solver, which reduces the solution of the governing nonlinear algebraic equations to the numerical integration of an initial-value problem, has problems in situations in which the head derivative of the flow rate tends to infinity, as is the case with zero flow rates. The extension is on the basis of the use of a model headloss-flow relationship that coincides with the true one at zero and has a finite head derivative at that point. This modified steady state solver is free from some convergence problems that occur in Newton-Raphson method-based solvers when analyzing a pipe network with control devices. The paper includes the results of the numerical analysis of test networks, which demonstrate the convergence of the modified steady state solver for cases in which existing steady state solvers have troubles. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE) HY.1943-7900.0000314. (c) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.